Book Description
Authors Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles conducted a ten-year study of companies that had grown the fastest over a three-year period. Their research reveals that while unsuccessful companies doggedly apply outdated business models, the successful ones improve their models every two to four years.
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage provides a straightforward, systematic method any company can use to review and improve its business model and each of its key components: pricing, costs of doing business, and benefits added. Dozens of concrete examples from companies of all sizes and types are provided.
Customer Reviews:
...the perennial gale of creative destruction.......2006-07-22
Mitchell and Coles have done businesses a tremendous service in writing this excellent book. They have done so by providing a practical toolbox of ideas with which to stimulate entrepreneurs, business leaders and managers to enhance and improve their business prospects in today's very competitive marketplaces.
I must admit to having struggled with this book for a long time. Not because of difficulty in reading and understanding. To be sure this is a very lucid and comprehensible book and is accessible to all levels from a twelve year old bringing out his lemonade stall for the third year in a row and adding iced tea to his product range to the CEO of a major corporation.
My struggle was with trying to make overarching sense of what lessons the authors were trying to encourage readers to learn. It became clear to me after several periods of reflection upon completion of the text. The crucial significance of this book in a practical way lies in understanding how deep into national economic systems the process of globalisation has seeped. We see the reults in our everyday lives, how quickly new or improved products come into the marketplace. We see how quickly established businesses change or die, we see cheaper and better products come from remote parts of the world leaving us a greater part of our disposable income to spend on the things we would prefer to spend on them.
It is clear that in life and not just in business the process of change has quickened and that as individuals we must be more adaptable and more attune to the world around us to the opportunities that exist. It is as if we need to become our own business in ourselves.
Mitchell and Coles focus on but one part of this continuous change and that is on the business model. Their strong focus on this area has great strength but we must also learn the broader lesson from their well researched work. To survive in today's world we must not only accept change but we must embrace it as people, as workers, as entrepreneurs. It is as Schumpeter pointed out inherent in the nature of capitalism. But, to be sure it is inherent in the nature of all life, as Hayek observed. We must change or die.
I would heartily recommend this book to everyone, for there is much to be gained from within it's pages. Mitchell and Coles have produced an excellent book which far and away exceeds it's remit as a business book.
opened my mind.......2006-02-03
This book will open your mind on how to launch a bew business or innovative product or server. However the authors could write this book in a more simple way and not with a hard to read english text.
Business Model Innovation Workbook.......2005-12-15
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage is a gold mine with a rich vein of unusual ideas from Mitchell and Coles' nimble minds. Its stated purpose is to help readers develop and implement a superior management process for continuous business model improvement. The book goes ahead to do just that.
The authors' approach make deliberate what used to be an accidental, hapazard, uncertain and hard to repeat process.
This book, like Mitchell and Coles' others, is best used as a workbook. After each chapter, several questions are posed to stimulate your thinking, and 95% of the value of the book will be unlocked for you when you take the time to think through them rigorously. Serious entrepreneurs looking for fresh ideas for getting out of the rut and improving their businesses will.
THIS I S A PRACTICAL BOOK.......2005-12-08
This is a practical book, but it is not a "how-to-book" instead, it deals with the what, when and why; with such tangibles as pricing, cost of doing business and benefits to stakeholders. The authors- Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles researched and found out that unsuccessful companies doggedly apply outdated business models while the successful ones improve their models every 2 to 4 years. The book provides a straightforwad and a systematic method which any company can use to review and improve its business model basing on its key components: pricing, cost of doing business and benefits to its shareholders.
Pragmatic and functional!.......2005-11-02
Before reading the book, “The Ultimate Competitive Advantage” it seemed to me that most management books were written for “big” business problems. Most authors quote one case after the other to make their own case. A collection of postmortem reports of different companies to tell you how they failed.
This is the first book that has taught me however small a business may be, its success depends on competitive edge it creates with its own resources. There are numerous ways that even limited resources can create an added benefit for the customers and increase my business. The example of “free cold water” on an off beat road is one such method in the book to remember as a simple but brilliant solution to attract customers and add value for the customers. The authors give a set of tools to help one think in a different manner. I recommend this book especially to young person trying to get their business started and also those seeking to break out of dead end situations. A great work!
Average customer rating:
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Developing Strategies for Competitive Advantage (Best of Long Range Planning - Second Series)
Manufacturer: Pergamon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Strategy & Competition
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Management
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All Amazon Upgrade
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ASIN: 0080435742 |
Book Description
This selection of papers from
Long Range Planning-The International Journal of Strategic Management examines the evolution of competitive advantage over the past decade, setting out areas of major change and areas which have been less subject to change. It begins by examining how strategic management has been influenced by the transformation of industries and the changes in the rules for success, and the dramatic rise in the strategic importance of information technology. In many industries the established rules of the game no longer apply, and their continued use will most likely lead to failure, even for firms which appear to have unassailable positions of strength. It is not that strategic planning has failed, but rather that in a previous era of greater certainty and clearer boundaries, the unquestioning application of established strategic rules often worked. In the new era of competitive uncertainty and uncertain boundaries, many of the rules of strategy still apply, but they can only have utility when applied in an appropriate context. The book concludes that when clarity exists about business definition, industry definition and competitor definition and how strategic techniques or measures should be applied, then the strategic fundamentals which have obtained for many years are likely to continue to do so.
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Developing Successful Ict Strategies: Competitive Advantages in a Global Knowledge-driven Society
Hakikur Rahman
Manufacturer: Idea Group Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Strategy & Competition
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Culture
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ASIN: 1599046547 |
Product Description
Developing Successful ICT Strategies: Competitive Advantages in a Global Knowledge-Driven Society collects an authoritative core of research investigating the notion that information communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to improve the lives of people and contribute to enhancing social conditions in developing countries through such concepts as the Knowledge Society, open education, and e-governance.
Comprehensively covering ICT research and applications in such diverse fields as healthcare, distance learning, government, and environmental activities, this Premier Reference Source will enable libraries to support research in a variety of disciplines that interact with ICT and its impact on the development of societies.
Book Description
This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
According to one theoretical approach, the primary economic function of retailers is to deliver products together with distribution services. We use this framework to identify competitive niches for smaller retailers competing against big box stores. We compare the distribution services offered by the Home Depot versus smaller retailers using both in-store measures and consumer perception data, and the relative importance of distribution services as determinants of store choice. The results show that the Home Depot's superiority in pricing and assortment attracts a significant market, but smaller retailers can secure niche markets by delivering higher levels of ambiance and information.
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The Power of Learning: A Guide to Gaining Competitive Advantage (Developing Strategies)
Andrew Mayo , and
Elizabeth Lank
Manufacturer: Hyperion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Motivation & Self-Improvement
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Vocational Guidance
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ASIN: 0852925654 |
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Strategic Marketing: A Guide for Developing Sustainable Competitive Advantage (Response Books)
M J Xavier
Manufacturer: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Strategy & Competition
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ASIN: 0761993215 |
Book Description
Strategic Marketing: A Guide for Developing Sustainable Competitive Advantage provides a systematic approach for marketing directors and other managers to formulate strategies that can give their organizations the desired competitive edge, as well as help them to forecast and plan for future challenges.
Professor Xavier covers the various aspects of strategic marketing including basic concepts, new developments and strategies to cope with the changing business environment. Extensive use is made of case studies.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Competitiveness Review, published by American Society for Competitiveness on January 1, 2003. The length of the article is 4284 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The use of an online commercial database as a source of competitive advantage for developing marketing strategies and tactics.
Author: R. Dale Wilson
Publication:
Competitiveness Review (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2003
Publisher: American Society for Competitiveness
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Page: 35(9)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Global Competitiveness, published by American Society for Competitiveness on January 1, 2001. The length of the article is 4018 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Using an Online Commercial Database as a Source of Competitive Advantage in Developing Marketing Strategies and Tactics.
Author: R. Dale Wilson
Publication:
Global Competitiveness (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2001
Publisher: American Society for Competitiveness
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Page: 569
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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American Shockwave: Entrepreneurial Capitalism and its Global Impact
Kim Ezra Shienbaum
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0275974839 |
Book Description
Challenging conventional wisdom, Shienbaum argues that the U.S. federal government, not the private sector, created the dynamic New Economy. Declining economic competitiveness and relative global underperformance during the 1970s and early 1980s threatened America's post-war global leadership position, a role Washington was loath to relinquish, especially during the Cold War. Citing these threats to American leadership and security, government officials set out to make the U.S. economy more competitive by creating innovative technology policies combined with policies providing strong incentives to new entrants while removing regulatory protections from more established companies. The federal government, in other words, nurtured fragile high-tech start-ups while forcing larger companies to compete in the marketplace, in the process transforming "regulatory" capitalism into an "entrepreneurial" capitalism marked by innovation, entrepreneurship, and competition. Shienbaum's book will be of interest to political scientists, policy makers, economists, and lay readers wanting to discover the causal factors that created the conditions for the unprecedented economic boom of the 1990s. Furthermore, by explicitly connecting government policy-making to economic change, Shienbaum reminds us of the basic but often-ignored truth that politics and economics are inescapably linked together. She concludes with a clear-eyed discussion of the limits of entrepreneurial capitalism and the forces lining up to oppose the "New Economy."
Book Description
Constructive feedback is an essential part of learning, growth, and performance. Too often, though, feedback is withheld. How to Encourage Constructive Feedback from Others, Participant’s Workbook from the popular 60-Minute Active Training Series offers you a ready-made design for an effective, yet brief program that will teach you how to obtain feedback useful from others. Specifically, you will be introduced to and learn how to apply, the four fundamental strategies that open up people at work to exchange honest and constructive feedback
- Invite others to give feedback that’s really wanted
- Develop an on-going commitment to feedback
- Take into account the needs of the person on the giving end
- Keep the focus on the future, not the past
Product Description
Copywriting That Sells High Tech is the definitive guide to writing powerful promotional materials for technology products, services, and companies.
Ideal for both novices and experienced communicators, Copywriting That Sells High Tech provides valuable insights and practical advice on writing clear and compelling promotional materials for technology products and services. The book is full of hundreds of ideas, examples, and techniques for improving the content of print and online materials.
Use this book every day to get valuable ideas for specific materials, to expand your knowledge into new areas, and to find resources for detailed exploration.
Customer Reviews:
Covers Everything for the High-Tech Copywriter.......2007-09-01
Writing copy for high-tech companies is totally different than other types of copywriting. In light of that fact, this book targets an audience that needs just this type of information.
I like the way Janice explains what a "callout" is, for example. While most experienced copywriters know what it is, a novice would not. And some copywriters who don't write high-tech, might not as well.
As one reviewer says, the author does cover a lot of material. But for someone just getting into high-tech copywriting, this is almost necessary. A second book that goes into detail on a few topics is called for as a follow-up read.
I recommend this book to anyone just getting into high-tech copywriting or someone who has done a little in the area but needs more information.
Comprehensive introduction, but dry.......2007-08-30
I've reviewed a few books in the "how to write..." genre, so Janice King offered me an opportunity to look at her book. I accepted because -- unbeknownst to Janice, I suspect -- my essay on "Care & Feeding of the Press" has quietly become a top resource for press relations professionals, which is one of the audiences for this book.
There's 12 chapters here, each of which covers a different facet of marcom. The first four chapters describe project planning, from defining the audience to the writing process (which covers both working with web designers and setting the proper tone for the marketing material). Five more chapters cover process: document elements, content types, text techniques, legal and ethical issues, and international concerns. The last section gives particular attention to specific types of marcom: sales materials, alliance (partner) materials, and press materials.
Although I've written a bit of marcom materials myself (such as technical white papers), my interest was focused on the last section since, as a computer industry journalist for more than 15 years, I have seen more press materials than one can imagine.
The best and worst I can say about Copywriting That Sells High Tech is that it reads like a college textbook. The information you need is all here, well organized and accessible. But it's a data dump -- not a mentor who shares experiences as well as information.
The information she imparts is accurate. Dull, maybe -- I felt as though I'd better be taking notes for the final exam -- but accurate. For example, she lists the types of press articles that a marcom professional might be called upon to produce, such as case studies, research findings, and technology primers, and describes the elements, requirements and expectations for each. If you didn't know any of this (and I can assure you that plenty of so-called PR professionals do not), you'll have a ready made checklist for your PR kit.
However, there's no sparkle in any of it; you don't have the least sense that a treasured friend is confiding her vast experience in this subject. But maybe you don't need that. (I like sparkle, personality, a voice.)
If you're new to marcom, or you're trying to figure out if this (lucrative) sort of writing is right for you, this is an excellent book to help you get started. It may also be useful (though less so) for a businessperson who suddenly has these duties plopped on her desk. You won't learn to write an effective press release (or to write an effective anything, really) from this text, but you'll be able to check off the elements that are expected by the target audience.
Copywriting That Sells High Tech is more "what" than it is "how." There are other references for the "how to write effectively" tasks, though; turn to this book for the broad picture.
Taking on too much.......2007-06-20
I purchased this book as a textbook for a marketing communications class. The class as a whole had a few negative comments, including that the text was difficult to follow. I had no trouble following it, but King does try to cover too much material in one book. Buy this book for an overview of copywriting and read first the chapters that pertain to your particular project (something King suggests herself). Move on to other books for a more in-depth view.
The book for ALL technical writing.......2006-05-13
This book is ideal for the marketing communications writer working for a technology company. In it you will find more than 300 pages of valuable content when writing for the Web or crafting written words for any type of marketing materials. The book is loaded with tips on how to craft compelling content.
The Bible of Writing Hi-Tech Copy.......2006-05-03
I've been writing business-to-business, industrial, and high-tech marcom materials for over a quarter of a century, and I wish I had this book when I started. It's comprehensive and filled with great tips on how to write more compelling, engaging promotions for technical products.
Average customer rating:
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Writing High-Tech Copy That Sells
Janice M. King
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 0471058467 |
Book Description
A compact, practical reference containing step-by-step guidance through the process of planning, designing, writing, contracting and producing marketing and promotional materials for technology-based products. Covers all the ins and outs of technical copywriting including how to handle international markets, cultural biases and computer jargon. Features ideas for nonprint marketing such as video, E-mail, fax and interactive presentations. Numerous examples are drawn exclusively from the high-tech industry.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on February 1, 1996. The length of the article is 900 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Writing High-Tech Copy That Sells. (book reviews)
Author: John Eldard
Publication:
Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: February 1, 1996
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: v43
Issue: n1
Page: p89(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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- The Value Net: A Tool for Competitive Strategy
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- 60-minute Brand Strategist
- Airline: A Strategic Management Simulation (4th Edition)
- ALGERIA: CONCLUSION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED $600,000,000 WATER SUPPLY PROJECT, SNC-LAVALIN [CANADA] - Order ... & Plant Operations in the Developing World
- Alignment: Using the Balanced Scorecard to Create Corporate Synergies
- An Introduction to Project Planning
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